Baidu signs AI deal with Shanghai government
Shanghai Party Secretary Li Qiang (second right) and Mayor Ying Yong (first right) meet Baidu chairman and chief executive officer Robin Li (second left) and Baidu Vice President Wang Lu (first left) in Shanghai on Tuesday.
The Shanghai government has signed a strategic collaboration deal with Baidu to enhance smart city construction and build a benchmark metropolitan for the adoption of AI.
Baidu will promote the integration of core technologies such as artificial intelligence to enhance the city's real economy through the Internet giant's advantages in big data, cloud computing, and especially in the areas of autonomous driving and intelligent transportation.
Shanghai Party Secretary Li Qiang said that artificial intelligence is one of the key areas where Shanghai can further develop the economy and enhance innovative capability.
"Baidu's forward-looking strategies and business initiatives within the artificial intelligence field fit well with Shanghai's development plans, and we have a broad prospect for further collaboration."
"Shanghai will continue to attract more research and development institutions and enterprises by leveraging our advantages in terms of science and education resources, application scenarios, massive data and infrastructure,” he added.
The city will focus on the utilization of artificial intelligence in various scenarios to promote the well-being of residents as well as businesses operators.
Baidu will set up an innovation center and Internet of Things headquarters in Shanghai, and put more innovative resources as well as technological breakthroughs in the city to better use.
Shanghai Executive Vice Mayor Wu Qing (left) and Baidu Vice President Wang Lu sign the framework collaboration deal in Shanghai on Tuesday.
Shanghai is accelerating the process of building its “five centers,” as well as building itself into a globally influential modern socialist city.
In September, the city held the World Artificial Intelligence Conference and brought in industry experts, academics and AI companies to offer advice for the city's adoption of AI initiatives.
Earlier this year, the government also signed strategic partnership agreements with Tencent, Alibaba and Xiaomi Corp for wide-ranging cooperation in innovative technologies and digital technologies.
Baidu chairman and chief executive chairman Robin Li said: "We will fully leverage this strategic cooperation framework as an opportunity to further increase investment in innovation and research in Shanghai, to promote more new business models, the adoption of new applications, and new product launches in the city."
"We will strive to make a greater contribution to Shanghai's artificial intelligence industry development and urban governance initiatives," he added.
Shanghai vice mayor Wu Qing and Baidu vice president Wang Lu signed the framework collaboration deal on behalf of the two parties.
